Will file case against Raja by Dec first week: Subramanian Swamy

Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy has exclusively disclosed to Zee News that he is planning to file a criminal case against former telecom minister A Raja in the first week of December in connection with the irregularities in 2G spectrum allocation. Swamy, who spoke to Zeenews.com’s Swati Chaturvedi on her programme Kahiye Janab, also talked about the Prime Minister’s inefficiency in taking action in the 2G scam and his will to fight corruption since the Emergency days. Swati: When would you be filing criminal charges against former telecom minister A Raja? Swamy: I am thinking of filing the case by the first week of December. As the case will be filed under Section 391 of Criminal Procedure Code, I’ll be able to add more names later. Swati: Congress has been saying that the case is politically motivated. What’s your reaction? Swamy: (Laughs)… First, they are saying that I am supporting the Prime Minister and at the same time, they are accusing me of being politically motivated. How can both be justified? A press release was issued on January 10, 2008, regarding the first-come-first-served basis for allocation of licenses, and it gave operators just an hour’s window to deposit demand drafts between 3.30 and 4.30 pm. Two frustrated officials came to me saying that there’s no point in continuing working. I researched and further learnt that national security angle was also linked to the 2G scam. Some of the players involved in this case are engaged with Dawood Ibrahim and Paksitan’s ISI. I have ample proof of this and will submit it in court. I then sent a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and he took note of it and asked his office to go through it. But his office didn’t reply for 3-4 months.Swati: Was it deliberately done? Swamy: PM is an economist and doesn’t know the nitty-gritty of law. According to the Supreme Court Manmohan Singhji should have accorded sanction or declined it in three months’ time. He shouldn’t have sent it to his office and even if he had it was the duty of his officers to brief him that he himself had to reply. Swati: You have been described as a blackmailer etc. What do you have to say about these allegations? Swamy: I have filed corruption charges against Jayalaithaa and never withdrew the cases. I am not like Congress people. The party had filed cases against DMK in the Indira Gandhi murder case and also appointed a probe. But as the Congress aligned with the latter, they withdrew the cases. Congress people don’t understand the meaning of blackmail. They don’t know how to apply their mind. Swati: You have since long fought against corruption… Swamy: I have not finished yet; I have to do much more. Swati: Why were the 2G licenses not cancelled? Swamy: The Prime Minister should answer this. I have said as well as written to him. He might be unaware of it earlier but at present everything is out in the open. So he should act now. The CBI knows who got the money and how people transferred it into foreign accounts. So there’s a need to get hold of such persons. If Manmohan Singhji cannot do so then he is not eligible to continue as the Prime Minister. I will go to the Delhi High Court and file a petition for cancelling the licenses. The petition was also sent to the apex court where the first-come-first-serve basis and the move to advance payment date were termed illegal. So, I was asked to file a separate petition in the High Court, which would be done soon. Swati: You are continuously referring to Dawood Ibrahim and ISI… Swamy: Pakistan as well as Dawood are involved in this case and I have complete information of this. Swati: Why wasn’t government aware of this? Swamy: The Prime Minister is talking as if he is helpless. Now everything is crystal clear and if he still stays mum he should be held accountable. We also have to get hold of those people who supported Raja. Swati: Have you received any threat? Swamy: I have been fighting for long. Neither I fear anybody nor anyone can buy me. No Congress person has approached me and said that I am a blackmailer and if anybody does, I will tackle them. Swati: Who is your target? Swamy: The country has lost Rs 1.75 lakh crore because licenses were given to those who were not eligible. Further, the price was also not in accordance with the market rate. Out of the total misappropriation amount Raja got a share of 10 percent. Two more families are also involved in the scam. I am collating all the facts and they (the two families) will be my next target.Swati: There’s a belief in this country that if you are involved in a small scandal, you will face a jail term, but you will walk free if you are embroiled in a big scam. Swamy: This is disappointing. We should be optimistic. When I filed the case against Ramakrishna Hegde everyone said nothing will happen. But in the end he was destroyed and died in disappointment. Swati: So you will never change your position and continue to fight against corruption? Swamy: I have not changed till date. I did friendship with Jayalaithaa but didn’t withdraw the cases. When she approached me to fight against Karunanidhi, I agreed but told her bluntly that cases against her will not be withdrawn. Adaptation: Biplob Ghosal